beatles

E3 2009: The Beatles: Rock Band

Putting one of the best-known video game franchises together with the music industry's all-time biggest brand name seems like a no-brainer way to sell a lot of plastic discs. We've previously voiced our concerns about the timing of this long-in-the-making first foray by The Beatles into digital music, but even if this might have a bigger money machine a year ago, it's still virtually guaranteed to be the one game coming out of E3 that nongamers will sit up and take notice of.

Unlike previous music game forays by Metallica, AC/DC, and Aerosmith, the Beatles version of Rock Band goes to great pains to stand out visually from the main Rock Band franchise. The graphics, menus, and interfaces are all new, and all designed to emphasize the historic nature of this collaboration.

The trippy magical history tour look through the band's past reminded us of the recent Beatles-based Las Vegas show, Love. 3D avatars of John, George, Ringo, and Paul change their looks depending on the era, and while standard Rock Band plastic instruments will work fine, MTV Games would no doubt prefer you to buy the new versions, modeled after some of the band's iconic gear (such as Paul's Hofner bass). … Read more

The 404 354: Where we three cover day one of E3 2009

Yesterday was the first time that I've ever seen Jeff doing actual work at his cube, so I relent for once and let him and Wilson talk about E3 2009. Video games, video games, video games on today's show, specifically about the new XBox 360 Project Natal, Halo sequels, new Metal Gear Solid, the Beatles: Rock Band, and even Facebook and Twitter! Wake me up when it's over.

Yesterday's Microsoft press conference at E3 2009 unveiled some pretty exciting video game news, even for an antigamer such as myself. First up is the new Project Natal, the company's new motion-sensing bar for the XBox 360 that allows the gamer to control gameplay with motion, sound, and even 3D movement. As exciting as it sounds, unfortunately Microsoft didn't mention a release date, so we definitely won't see it in stores for Christmas 2009, which Jeff and Wilson think is a bit of a tease.

Aside from a few big game announcements, the big release news comes by way of everyone's favorite British gentlemen, with Beatles: Rock Band. Paul, Ringo, and even a few surprise visitors were there to kick off the game, and although Jeff is decidedly negative about the rise of plastic gaming, the game looks pretty cool. Check out the slideshow for pictures of Christopher "McLovin" Mintz-Plasse and Dhani Harrison taking a crack at the game.

Later on in the show, we announce the FINALISTS for our 404 logo competition. We received over 150 submissions and while they were all fantastic, we can only choose one for the official logo, so be sure to check out the final slideshow above and vote for your favorite in the comments section! Also, don't forget that even if your entry doesn't win the grand prize, we'll still use it for our mosaic/quilt/poster/sticker/shirt/etc...Thanks one million times over and again to everyone that submitted--you guys rule!

EPISODE 354 Download today's podcast Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

E3 2009: Playing Rock Band with McLovin and rocking DJ Hero with Jay-Z

What's the best way to get the word out about your upcoming video game? If you're displaying your wares at E3, it's a time-honored tradition to hire a few celebrities to, if not downright endorse it, then at least to stand near your product and mention it a few times.

We saw this at Microsoft's press conference, featuring Paul and Ringo, along with Steven Spielberg and Tony Hawk; and later at Ubisoft's press event, with guest appearances by James Cameron and Pele (yes, the soccer player).

Microsoft's evening press event, featuring The Beatles: Rock Band, plus playable demos of Halo: ODST and Left 4 Dead 2, continued the celebrity theme. We got a chance to play "Back in the USSR" and "Taxman," but the real excitement started when we left the stage and were replaced by the unlikely combo of Dhani Harrison and Christopher "McLovin" Mintz-Plasse. … Read more

Microsoft E3 2009 press conference: The games

The Microsoft press conference at E3 2009 offered a detailed glimpse into the Xbox 360's video game line up for the rest of 2009 and into 2010 as well. Things started off with a giant Beatles Rock Band introduction climaxing with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr appearing on stage.

Tony Hawk then helped show off the new skateboard controller to be used with Tony Hawk Ride, a new game that abandons the conventional control scheme. Players can use the board to kick, turn, and do grab tricks.

Next, Infinity Ward premiered a snow-covered level of the highly anticipated Modern Warfare 2 (see: Call of Duty) with dazzling graphics and intense action game play.

A very brief combat scene from Final Fantasy XIII was on display, officially removing console exclusivity from the Sony PlayStation 3. This debut wrapped up the multiplatform games that are going to be available for the Xbox 360. In a refreshing change of pace, it was announced that all games shown off from here on out will be available exclusively on the Xbox 360.

Kicking off these titles was the DLC (downloadable content) game Shadow Complex from developer Epic Games (Gears of War)--an action/exploration game very much in the vein of the original Metroid and Castlevania series.

Joy Ride will allow you to race as your Xbox Live Avatar with friends online. The free DLC title looks a lot like a Mario Kart inspired racer where you'll be able to purchase additional tracks for use with friends as well.

The follow up to the open world over-the-top crime-fighting title Crackdown has gotten a sequel in the form of Crackdown 2. Zombie apocalypse fans will be happy to hear that Left4Dead 2 will see the light of day this November.… Read more

McCartney removes house from Google Street View

Paul McCartney, or Sir Paul as he's strangely known across the Atlantic, sent a message to Google: "Please, please me."

"Please, please me by removing images of my house from your Street View service," that is.

According to the Sun newspaper, one of the world's most famous left-handed guitarists, was concerned that Google Street View offered a 360-degree view of his house. So his security detail contacted Google in order to remove all details of his property.

However, if you go to the Street View in question (now blacked out), and then move around, … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 961: Are you smarter than Google?

IBM is creating a computer that will go to battle against contestants on Jeopardy, and we envision that it will be something like an Internet-connected Google computer searching for the answers in real time. Something tells me this computer will be a little bit smarter than that. Also, Nicole Lee joins us to discuss a slew of cell phone-related news.

Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 961

Verizon and the iPhone: Nothing to report…yet http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10227945-94.html

Investigated: Unlocked GSM Palm Pre on sale http://crave.cnet.co.uk/mobiles/0,39029453,49302115,00.htm… Read more

Paul McCartney: Pirate Bay verdict is 'fair'

Singer Paul McCartney has voiced his support for the verdict rendered in The Pirate Bay trial.

"If you get on a bus you've got to pay," the former Beatle told the BBC. "And I think it's fair, you should pay your ticket."

On Friday, a court in Stockholm convicted four men connected to The Pirate Bay--Gottfrid Svartholm Warg, Peter Sunde, Fredrik Neij, and Carl Lundstrom--of charges related to copyright infringement. The court sentenced each to a year in jail and fined the group the equivalent of $3.6 million. On Thepiratebay.org, a blog … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 954: Sext cells

Maggie Reardon from News.com joins Natali and me to talk about a host of cell phone news, including new iPhone patents, legislation around sexting, and of course, courier pigeons that deliver contraband cell phones to inmates. I mean, we all saw that last one coming...right?

Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 954

eBay buys Gmarket http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/04/16/technology/business-us-gmarket-ebay.html

Apple iPhone patents http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10220939-37.html?tag=newsEditorsPicksArea.0

PC sales are down but it is not that bad http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-10220392-92.html http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/15/dell-still-struggles-hp-and-acer-grow/… Read more

Remastered Beatles albums, did they get it right this time?

I read the news today, oh boy: The entire Beatles catalog has been remastered for CD and is coming September 9 of this year. Sounds like deja vu all over again; these rumors pop up all the time, but this time it's for real. Maybe.

That said, I'm happy no one's saying the phrase "Remastered for MP3." That's too scary a concept. MP3 sounds so awful, remastering hardly seems necessary.

Each CD will be packaged with replicated original UK album art, including expanded booklets containing original and newly written liner notes and rare photos. For a limited period, each CD will be embedded with a brief documentary film about the album. Two new Beatles boxed CD collections will also be released, one box features the mono mixes favored by some die-hard Beatles fans. Why, I have no idea.

The original (British) versions of the twelve albums were first released on CD in 1987; they sounded thin and bright, without a hint of the LPs' analog warmth. It was hardly an auspicious beginning for the digital Beatles music.

The "Let It Be... Naked" CD, released in 2003, was remixed and reedited, there was no attempt to be faithful to the original album. It sounded a bit better than the 1987 version, but just barely. So all we can do is hope the newly tweaked versions are worth waiting 22 years for.

I bought the two Capitol four-disc sets, "The Beatles: The Capitol Years Volumes 1 & 2," when they were released a few years ago. They sounded fine, though hardly revelatory. My original American, British, and Japanese mastered LPs sounded better.

Actually, the best sounding Beatles CDs so far are "The Beatles Anthology" releases from 1995. Those were cleaner, more dynamic, with more extended bass, and clearer treble than the earlier CDs.

Whatever, here's hoping the new CDs sound more like the Anthologies. No matter what, I'll buy 'em and see for myself.… Read more